Concrete step form assembly



y 26, 1954 1 A. PINNER 3,134,157

CONCRETE STEP FORM ASSEMBLY y 26, 1954 L. A. PINNER 3,134,157

CONCRETE sTEP FORM ASSEMBLY Filed May 10. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORLEONAQD A. Pmum ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,134,157 CONCRETE STEPFORM ASSEMBLY Leonard A. Pinner, 919i) Forest Lane, Dallas, Tex. FiledMay 10, 1960, Ser. No. 28,033 1 Claim. (til. 25 118) This inventionrelates to the art of constructing step foundations from concrete or thelike, and is particularly directed to a step form assembly which caneasily be moved from position to position, as well as from job to job.

In order to construct stepped tiers for stadiums, auditoriums,coliseums, gymnasiums, or similar meeting places, from concrete, it iscommon practice to build a form into which concrete can be dumped, orthrough which concrete can be poured. Generally, when a large expanse isto be obtained, forms are built across the Whole expanse, or sections ofthe expanse are provided with forms which must be disassembled beforethey can be moved to another section.

The present invention has as one of is principal objects the provisionof a concrete step form assembly which is easily movable from positionto position without being disassembled. A further primary object of thepresent invention is to provide such a concrete step form assembly whichcan be disassembled for convenient movement from one location toanother, or in the terms of the trade from job to job.

Still further objects of the present invention are:

(a) To provide a step form assembly conforming With the precedingobjects which is rigid in assembled form and adapted to extend across anincline whereby concrete can be poured down the incline under theassembly to form steps;

(b) To provide such a concrete step form assembly which is provided withwheels whereby the assembly can be easily rolled from position toposition;

(c) Toprovide such a concrete step form assembly wherein a plurality ofspaced parallel riser stops depend from the assembly, and are adjustablysupported thereby;

(d) To provide a concrete step form assembly wherein spaced rhombictrusses are used for side support, wherein means are provided formaintaining the trusses in spaced parallel relation, and wherein theriser stops are adjustably coupled to, and depend from, the bottoms ofeach of the trusses;

(e) To provide such a concrete step form assembly wherein the wheelscarried thereby are adjustable so that the trusses can easily becorrectly positioned relative to a given incline on which the assemblyis disposed;

(f) To provide such a concrete step form assembly wherein each of thetrusses comprises a plurality of sections releasably coupled together inend-toend relation, wherein the means for maintaining the trusses inspaced relation are detachably coupled with the trusses, and wherein theriser stops are not only adjustably, but detachably coupled with thetruss assembly whereby the whole assembly may be collapsed and shippedin parts from place to place; and

(g) To provide such a concrete step form assembly which can beinexpensively manufactured, easily assembled, and which is durable inuse.

The invention consists in the construction, arrangements, andcombination of the various parts of the assembly, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained description of the illustrative embodiments ofthe invention presented in the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a concrete step form assemblyconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the lower portion of the right side of theassembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the upper portion of the right side of theassembly shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly taken onthe line 44 of FIGURE 3.

In the drawings, the numeral 2 has been used to generally designate themovable concrete step form assembly provided by the invention. Theassembly 2 comprises at least two spaced-apart truss support structures4 and 6, a plurality of pairs of transversely aligned brackets such asthose designated by numeral 8, projecting from each of the trussstructures, and a plurality of elongated plates 10 coupled betweendiiferent pairs of the brackets and extending below the trussstructures.

Means in the form of cross bars 12 are provided for supporting the trussstructures 4 and 6 in spaced parallel relation, and such cross bars arereleasably coupled between the truss structure as explained in moredetail hereinbelow. Each of the truss structures comprises at least twosections which are joined together releasably in endto-end relation.Coupling plates such as those designated by numeral 16 are welded, orotherwise suitably coupled, to the top and bottom end of one section ofeach truss, and such plates extend beyond the end of the section towhich they are coupled. The other section of each truss fits under theplate, and can be coupled thereto by means of bolts 18 whereby thesections, when joined, form an elongated rhombic frame having aplurality of cross members such as those designated by numeral 20extending between opposite sides of the frame.

Preferably, the frame is formed from a plurality of pairs ofright-angled beams, and each pair of beams is spaced apart by a crossmember 20 secured therebetween, as by a weld. As shown in FIGURE 2, atleast one of the right-angle beams which forms the bottom of each of thetrusses, namely beam 160, is slotted as at 30, 30', 36", etc. Assuggested above, the assembly also includes a plurality of brackets,which comprise a pair of legs disposed at an acute angle with respect toone another. The legs of the brackets are preferably also slotted as at33, 33, and formed integrally from a single elongated strip. As shown inFIGURES 2 and 4, the legs 32 and 32 of the brackets extend between thebottom pair of right-angle beams, 10d, 1tl2 of a truss structure, andare coupled therewith, preferably, by means of bolts 36 which extendthrough aligned slots in a base-member beam and the leg of a bracket.Wing nuts such as those designated by numeral 34 cooperate with thebolts 36 in accordance with the invention, and the slots on the legs ofthe brackets are elongated whereby the brackets may be adjustablypositioned with respect to the truss structure, or more particularlywith respect to the base-members of the truss structures made up from apair of right-angle beams as explained hereinabove.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, a plurality of flanges 40 project laterallyfrom each of the truss structures. Preferably, as shown in FIGURE 4,such flanges are carried by, and suitably attached to, as by a weld, theinside top and bottom right-angle beams 1G2 and 102' of each trussstructure. The flanges are apertured, as are the cross rods 12 and 12',and bolt means 42 extends through the aligned apertures in the flangesand ends of cooperating rods to couple the rods with the flanges wherebythe rods serve to support the truss structures in spaced parallelrelation. Of course, the bolt means 42 can be easily removed in theevent it is desired to knock-down the whole assembly.

Carried at either end of the bottom of each of the truss structures aremeans for movably supporting the same. Preferably, such means take theform of wheels 60, whereby the truss structure can be rolled fromposition to position. The wheels 60 carried at the forward end of theassembly, as shown in FIGURE 2, are supported within a bracket 62carried at one end of a threaded shaft 64. The shaft 64 cooperates witha threaded collar 66 carried between a pair of right-angle beams 1G0,162 forming the base of a truss structure. The shaft 64 carries a handle68 so as to facilitate vertical adjustment of the wheels 60 with respectto the truss structure. Specifically, upon turning the handle 68, theshaft 64 is caused to rotate, and as a result the collar 66 rides upthereon. Since the collar is attached to the truss, the truss isvertically elevated.

The wheels 60 carried at the upper or right end of the assembly shown inFIGURE 1, preferably rotate about axles 70 which pass through or betweenthe pairs of rightangle beams 104, 166 making up the ends 72 of thetrusses. The axles 70 are attached as by weld between the beams 104, 1&6forming the ends 72, as well as welded between the beams 1%, 162 formingthe bases of the trusses.

V In addition to the components discussed hereinabove, in detail, theconcrete step form assembly provided by the invention, as suggested,also includes a plurality of elongated plates or riser stops which arecarried between transversely-aligned pairs of brackets 8. The plates 10are attached to the leg 32 of the brackets by means of bolts 82 as shownin FIGURE 4, since the plates are coupled between pairs oftransversely-aligned brackets, and since in accordance with theinvention the assembly is used to form steps, the plates are disposed inspaced parallel relation. By virtue of the adjustable coupling betweenthe brackets and the truss structures, the plates can be adjusted to anysuitable level desired. Moreover, the angle which the plates make withrespect to the base of the truss structures can be adjusted so that theplates are at least substantially vertically disposed regardless of theangle of slope of the overall assembly.

Having thus set forth the detailed construction of the variouscomponents which make up the concrete step form assembly provided by theinvention, attention can now be directed to the operational use of suchassembly. Initially, the assembly would be moved to a job location inknock-down form. Then, the sections of each truss would be joinedtogether by passing bolts through the coupling plates 16 and alignedapertures in the beams which make up the top and bottom of each trussframe. The cross bars 12 then would be fastened to thelaterallyprojecting flanges 40 to maintain the truss structures inspaced parallel relation.

Once the assembly has been so set up and coupled together, it can berolled from position to position. In FIGURE 1, the numeral 1 has beenused to designate an incline or slope on which concrete steps are to beconstructed by using the form provided by the invention.

Preferably, at the top and bottom of the slope a flat bearing surface isprovided, and such surface can take the form of a plank 90 as shown. Theassembly is rolled onto the planks and moved to the desired position.Then, if necessary, the Wheels 60 at the front of the assembly areadjusted to vertically position the truss structures. Of course, theriser stops or plates 10 can be coupled with the brackets and installedafter the truss has been moved to its initial position, or the plates 10can be installed on the brackets after the brackets have been coupled tothe trusses. The particular sequence of steps followed in setting up theassembly will vary from job to job depending on the conditions.

Regardless of the steps followed in coupling all of the components ofthe assembly together, after the assembly has once been set up, concreteis poured down the incline. As the concrete flows down the incline, theriser stops 10 serve to maintain the concrete at given levels wherebytiers are formed. After one section of tiers has been formed, theassembly is merely rolled laterally to an adjacent section, and the sameprocedure is followed again. Thus, it should be apparent that with theassembly provided by the invention an expanse of steps can be formedeasily and speedily. The need for disassembling the step forms andre-assembling such forms in different sections is eliminated.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention provides for utilizingwheels 66 at the rear of the assembly which are carried on the axle 7bas explained, it should be understood that the Wheel means provided atthe rear f the assembly can take the same form as those provided at thefront of the assembly. Moreover, the wheel brackets 62 can be rotatablysupported at the end of the threaded shaft 64 to facilitate rolling ofthe step assembly around a curve if desired.

Although not specifically emphasized hereinabove, the invention not onlyeliminates adjustment of the risers as adjacent sections are poured, butfacilitates proper alignment of steps in adjacent sections.Specifically, after one section is poured and has set, the assembly isrolled transversely with the riser plates 16 aligned with the steps ofthe section completed, and no new adjustment is necessary.

While the dimensions of the various components are not necessarilycritical, I have found that satisfactory operation, and easy shippingwith existing equipment, can be obtained if the trusses are spreadapproximately 10 to 12 feet apart and extend over a length of 50 to 60feet. Thus, the trusses are preferably made 64 feet long, and eachsection of the truss is 32 feet in length. Although two truss structureshave been shown in the drawings, preferably a series of six trussstructures are set up at the same time. The additional truss structuresare coupled together in exactly the same manner as those shown, and itshould be apparent that any number of the structures can be used ifdesired.

Notwithstanding the fact that the invention has been described asproviding a concrete step form assembly it should be understood thatother flowable materials which are used for making steps can be formedwith the assembly provided by the invention. Moreover, the assembly,while particularly adapted for use in constructing expanses of steps,can be suitably adapted to use for forming small step structures such asone would find in a building or at a home.

Undoubtedly, after reading the foregoing description, variousmodifications within the scope and spirit of the invention other thanthose specifically suggested will become apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art.

What is claimed is:

A knock-down movable concrete step form assembly comprising at least twospaced-apart truss support structures, each of said structurescomprising an elongated rhombic frame, each of said truss structurescomprising at least two truss sections detachably joined together inend-to-end relationship, each of said truss sections having a baseformed by a pair of right angle members; a plurality of bracketsdetachably and adjustably secured to the base of said sections betweensaid right angle members, pairs of said brackets being aligned with eachother, said base being provided with slots along the length thereof,said brackets comprising a pair of leg members disposed at an acuteangle with respect to one another and also having slots therein; boltmeans extending through said slots in said leg members and said slots insaid base for adjustably coupling said brackets with said trussstructures; a plurality of elongated plates, each of said plates beingconnected to and between a different aligned pair of said brackets andextending below said truss structures to define riser stops, a pluralityof pairs of aligned flanges projecting laterally of said trussstructures, each pair of flanges including one flange disposed at thebottom portion of one of said truss structures and another flangedisposed at the top portion of the other of said truss structures, aplurality of rods detachably secured to and extending between differentpairs of said flanges; wheel means disposed at opposite ends of saidtruss support structures, said wheel means being carried at one end ofeach of said truss support structures comprising a threaded collar fixedbetween said pair of right angle members, a threaded shaftlongitudinally adjustable within said threaded collar, a handleprojecting from said shaft, and a wheel coupled with said shaft wherebysaid wheel is vertically adjustable upon rotation of said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCornelius Aug. 11, 1914 Vandegrift Feb. 22, 1916 Gottschalk Oct. 21,1919 Brynoldt Mar. 8, 1927 Brynoldt Oct. 19, 1937 Cline Apr. 10, 1951Einbinder et al Apr. 28, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS France Aug. 14, 1922

